The North Face

We are named for the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain. We have helped explorers reach the most unfathomable heights of the Himalayas. But The North Face® legend begins, ironically, on a beach. More precisely, San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, at an altitude of only 150 feet above sea level. It was here in 1966 that two hiking enthusiasts resolved to follow their passions and founded a small mountaineering retail store.

Soon thereafter, that little shop became known as The North Face, a retailer of high-performance climbing and backpacking equipment. In 1968, The North Face moved to the other side of San Francisco Bay, to the unbridled possibilities of the Berkeley area, and began designing and manufacturing its own brand of technical mountaineering apparel and equipment.

In hopes of sharing our passion for the outdoors, we created a number of global events and initiatives to inspire the next generation of explorers and conservationists.

Flexible Media Releases

Marin Backyard Collective May 4, 2012

The Best Internship on Earth

Hot Planet/Cool Athlete

Campaigns

Explore Fund
We at The North Face love the outdoors. It's in our DNA, and it defines us as a company. This passion and our desire to share is the catalyst behind...

Responsible Down Standard
The North Face is committed to improving animal welfare and traceability in the goose down and feather supply chain. We created the Responsible Down...

Never Stop Brand Campain
Th North Face unveils first-ever global brand campaign, “Never Stop,” to change the way people view exploration.

Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge
Outdoor Nation and The North Face have partnered to launch the first-ever Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge to get more young people outside and active.

Clothes The Loop
In 2010, the U.S. EPA estimated that over 26 billion pounds of apparel, footwear, and other textiles were thrown away. Nearly 85 percent of which...

Expedition Sustainability
For 45 years, The North Face has been empowering people to explore the outdoors. This focus on the natural world has opened our eyes to the many...

PROMOTE & PROTECT AMERICA’S PUBLIC LANDS
The North Face President Todd Spaletto and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today announced a partnership to protect, preserve...

Role Models - Set the example of outdoor exploration
We're challenging you to commit to introducing someone you know to something new in the outdoors, whether it is rock climbing, trail running or just a...

KNOW Boundaries
The KNOW Boundaries safety initiative was created to provide valuable insight on the knowledge, skills and training required for safe, responsible...
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